Hooked Up: Secret to size of catch often hinges on size of bait

Fishing and hunting really have a lot in common if you think about it. In both sports, the sportsman is forced to sit in wait for the right game to present itself.

Comment

By Jim Kilchermann Jr.

Ionia Sentinel - Standard-Ionia, MI

By Jim Kilchermann Jr.

Posted Jan. 5, 2013 at 12:02 AM
Updated Jan 5, 2013 at 12:53 AM

By Jim Kilchermann Jr.

Posted Jan. 5, 2013 at 12:02 AM
Updated Jan 5, 2013 at 12:53 AM

MUIR, Mich.

Fishing and hunting really have a lot in common if you think about it. In both sports, the sportsman is forced to sit in wait for the right game to present itself.

The bonus in fishing, at least for me, is that I can release those fish that turn out to be less than I was after. In hunting, once shot, the game is "over" – so to say.

Another commonality in the two sports is the size of the equipment used to take the game. Most hunters understand that a .22 caliber rifle should not be used to shoot whitetail or elk, yet these same sportsmen will use a small lure when after big fish. This does not make sense to me.

I have stated several times that big fish like to strike big baits. Never has this been as blatantly clear as this past New Year's day. I spent the day fishing with my brother Brad on a lake known for holding large northern pike. We went whole hog and got up way before daylight, made sure we were on the water at sun-up and yes, we froze our butts off!

The Lake was open, however, Brad took the boat up and down the channel leading from the launch several times to clear a path through the thin ice. This allowed us to make it out onto the lake with little difficulty.

The snow fell sporadically as we trolled our lures in hopes of a nice pike. We were using lures that measured eight inches or larger in the hope of bringing some large fish out of their seasonal slumber and coercing a bite. It worked.

Brad was the first, as he typically is when we fish together, to get hooked up. His first fish of the year was a nice mid-20 inch pike which was returned unharmed as soon as a pic was taken. The cold temperature seemed a bit more tolerable once the fish made their presence known.

A few more of the same size fish were caught and released with one very large fish breaking Brad's line and making off with his favorite lure. Another tip to all would be fishermen: always use a wire leader when seeking out large pike. This is a must. I landed a nice fish to begin my day with smaller fish following and a very large fish gaining his/her freedom without actually being seen. The feel of this fish is enough to make me venture out again - even in to the cold – to attempt to catch it.

We kept one of our better fish and upon cleaning it noticed a seven- to eight-inch sucker minnow in the fish's belly. This fish had recently eaten a large minnow, yet still struck a 10-inch lure. Who says fish are inactive in cold water? When seeking out large fish, I say go big or go home. Large fish hit large lures. Like many of you, I have caught very large fish on a very small lure, however, this is not the norm.

Page 2 of 2 - Another interesting item I would like to pass along is in line choice. Cold weather requires fishing line formulated to work in the cold. Not only does the line cast and react better than the typical summer blend monofilaments, the knot strength is much greater with a cold weather line. Most manufacturers produce a line intended for cold weather usage. I prefer either Trilene or Stren cold weather and have had great success with both.

Keeping the water from freezing your tip and guides is a difficult task in cold and freezing temperatures. One trick I have had some success with is to spray the tip and guides of my rods with a fish attractant spray. These typically contain an oily compound full of salt. The salt keeps the ice from forming and allows me to fish uninterrupted for hours, in most cases.

Get out onto the water whether it be open or frozen and catch yourself a nice stringer of fish. Remember to take only what you intend to use and save a few for the next guy. Remember to practice safe cold-weather boating practices when out on the water as there may only be seconds to save your life if you find yourself in the cold water. Lastly, take someone fishing with you that might not otherwise be able to enjoy the sport we all hold so dear to our hearts and remember, it's a great outdoors.

Jim Kilchermann is an avid outdoorsman who started the New Year out with a great fishing trip with his brother and a few nice fish. Contact him at jimkilchermann@yahoo.com and share your own fishing and hunting stories. Until next time, stay out of the snags and keep all of your shots in the ten ring.